The documents relating to Zach Scruggs’s plea are on the Biloxi Sun Herald site along with a story about the plea. Here is the transcript to the Zach Scruggs plea hearing and here is the Factual Basis for the Zach Scruggs plea and here is the Zach Scruggs plea agreement.
Update:
If you read on pages 8-9, you will see that the agreement explicitly provides that it only prevents the government from coming after Zach about this one case– the judicial bribery case. There is no reference to the DeLaughter matter. On page 14 the court notes that the agreement does not require cooperation, and asks “Do you have knowledge that he has information on other cases?” The prosecutor said: “We have no knowledge that he has any information on other cases at this time, Your Honor.” The court then says: “All right. Of course, this is quite a difference of charges from six felony counts involving conspiracy and the related counts down to one count of misprision of a felony. If the prosecution thinks that’s what they want to charge with him now, the Court will — that’s the prosecution’s call.”
I’m going to glance at my description of Zach Scruggs’s statement and see if it needs revised or extended….
I see Mike Moore signed as first chair. Well, guess that settles that sub-debate.
And, yessirree, no whiff of yer-home-free-on-other-cases.
Resounding little word I emphasize there.
the crime zach was charged with requires, on his part, knowledge of a federal conspiracy, and an act to conceal it.
zach plead guilty to that crime.
then he stands and tells judge biggers he knew nothing of the conspiracy to bribe lackey.
totally inconsistent with his plea.
this wont sit well with biggers – and it shouldn’t.
I could not believe his last comment in Court – God save this Court and our honorable profession. That should get him some prison time. Talk abour arrogance.
well the guy is only 33 years old and was raised by the devil, nancy. that’s as good as he could probably do. but i agree he’s looking at some serious jail time and i don’t think that biggers would be wrong to give him more than backstrom.
i bet when delaughter is standing in the same spot, he won’t apologize or admit anything either.
Also, remember Zach refused to go the court room last Friday. Another act of defiant arrogance that should work against him in my opinion.
iwannaknow 4:
I agree with your observation. Zach did not admit to a crime in his statement and Hon. Biggers prolly will take exception to that. Betting he won’t get 2 pt reduction for acceptance of responsibility per guidelines. imo.
I suspect Biggers will tell the Govt that their deal was too weak under the facts and give Zach at least a taste of prison. ‘Course they might be going light on him now knowing there is more to come. No sense spending time and resources on a bit player when there are bigger fish still to catch.
I liked Judge Biggers’ remark about Zach’s lawyers “burning up the road” between here and Missouri